<p>Hi, I'm a high school sophomore and I started to get into college prep just recently. I've wanted to become a doctor my entire life and I am thoroughly willing to commit myself to activities revolving around this. Does anyone know of any activities that really make you commit yourself to medicine and science?</p>
<p>BTW, I live in the LA County area. Pasadena/La Canada to be specific. If any locals know of any programs, that would be great.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>I thought that if anyone knew about this topic, it would be the parents.</p>
<p>My son was pretty much like you. He had the opportunity to do medical research at a med school about 1/2 hour away under a mentor who happens to live in our community. (Many high schools have independent research programs that help you find a mentor, or you can contact teaching hospitals or med schools in your area. Much of the work is done in the summers.)The other thing he did is volunteer in the ER of a local hospital.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people who volunteer in an ER here in Ohio. I think the hospital they work in requires two full afternoons of training. </p>
<p>Usually you start these jobs by making waiting room patients more comfortable (getting blankets, ice packs, etc) and then you slowly get more responsiblity (like helping with basic medical procedures). The work may not seem like much fun, you get to make great connections with doctors, and to watch live procedures.</p>
<p>I just looked into the programs at my local hospitals, it turns out you have to have some specific training and be 18 to work in the ER in Cali, but thanks a lot anyways!</p>
<p>My son started out as a general volunteer,and then still did basic patient assistance in the ER when he was 17. The idea is to be exposed to patients and to medical intervention/hospital environment. It is unrealistic to expect to be doing medical procedures.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how shadowing a doctor works? How long is the time commitment and can you do it in conjunction with other types of volunteering?</p>
<p>My H and I (both internists) have had many students, HS and college, shadow us, for varying lengths of time- some just an afternoon, others for several weeks, for say a few hours or so a day. We also teach med students from the Univ. program, giving the individual cumulative experience over 4 years.
I'd suggest you see if a local MD, perhaps your own, or in a field that you're interested in, is willing to have you shadow them for a bit. There are privacy laws that must be complied with, and patient permission for you to sit in on an interview, or exam- the doc will know all of this. Why don't you write a brief letter to some local docs asking them if you could do this with them, then follow up with a phone call a week or so later. You will likely get a secretary who will pass along the request verbally, then hopefully you'll get a call back with a "yes", but maybe not. I would move on if you get no response. Remember, it adds alot of time to the docs day to do this, i.e. a good one will provide you with explanations along the way, and that will just make their day longer- so be appreciative of any time they can give you.
Good luck- it is great that you are trying to gain some education in this at this point!</p>
<p>a lot of my friends who want to go to med school did some type of science research while being mentored by a prof at their local university. i don't think caltech is out of the question for you... see if you can do some volunteer research in their biology dept or whatever. my most ambitious friends really pursued this, nabbing research assistant positions at UCLA, USC, and CSU Fullerton. </p>
<p>other popular activities include job shadowing your own doctor, volunteering at a local hospital, etc. doesn't sound as fancy as the research positions, but these are good experiences and easier to obtain.</p>
<p>Do you speak Spanish? Many hospitals will figure out a way to get you a volunteer position if you can work as an interpreter, with Spanish being the most commonly needed. And, many times, you'll end up either in the ER or surgery, so you can see a lot, just by proximity.</p>
<p>Hey Docta, I'm originally from Tujunga, small world! My D is a junior and works in a local low income clinic. She helps with reception, observes the doctors, and translates Spanish as many of the clients are Latino(she's had 4 years of Spanish in hs). Everyone at the clinic is a volunteer, including the doctors, so they're very receptive to helping you see what that type of medical situation is all about.</p>
<p>Consider joining a volunteer rescue squad (and becoming an EMT) if those things are possible in your area. Our son is on two squads and has had the opportunity to meet a wide range of patients, see and understand a wide range of medical conditions, experience and conquer stress, and learn an enormous amount of medicine.</p>
<p>you should go see the career advisor at your HS to see if they know of any programs that other students have done. And if you can't do something in a hospital, there are rest homes that take care of elderly people that will give you exposure to working with people who are often in poor health.</p>